@raffy_greaves

1. What’s your story? Where are you from?

I’m 25 and graduated almost two years ago from the University of The West of England (UWE) after studying Illustration. I briefly studied Animation for a year at Bournemouth but quickly discovered it wasn’t for me. I’m living in Bristol now and running a design business called Printed Goods with my brother George Greaves, who is also an illustrator. Starting my own company has been a really good experience and all the positive feedback we’ve received has been a great boost to my practice.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I experiment and try out new things, but am ultimately always drawn to working in a bold, graphic way. Architectural and sculptural forms influence me a great deal. I particularly love Henri Laurens’ ‘Head of a Woman’.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I find it easiest to work on Photoshop as it allows me to easily try out and adapt many different ideas. More recently I have also been hand painting banners, as I love working with paint on a large scale.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I usually have some idea in my head of what I want to produce before I start, which could’ve been inspired by anything – an artist’s work I admire, buildings I find aesthetically interesting etc. and then work from there. The final outcome is usually very different to what I planned, but I like that element of surprise.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

There are so many artists who inspire me. Matisse, Ravilious, Hockney, Miró, De Chirico I have admired for a long time, but more recently I draw inspiration from Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and Henri Laurens.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I feel very lucky to have art to provide me with endless aesthetic pleasure and to offer me the opportunity to work doing something I love.

7. Where did you study?

I did an Art Foundation course at Bristol School of Art which was lots of fun but I didn’t do much work as was enjoying the freedom of life after school a bit too much! I then went on to study Animation at Bournemouth which, although a good course, wasn’t for me. I then ended up back in Bristol studying Illustration at UWE. I’m very glad to be out of the education system now. I work much better off my own motivation.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years? Working in an agency?

In five years I see myself as a more developed artist, perhaps working in a larger variety of mediums. I also see Printed Goods as a fully established business, with a bricks and morter shop.

9. What about in ten?

I don’t tend to think that far ahead.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

I hope to help elevate the way illustration and more practical forms of art are viewed in mainstream culture.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Currently I love Middle Eastern food, so I think I’ll go with a chicken tagine.

12. Favourite book?

‘The Master and Margarita’ by Mikhail Bulgakov. A great and very surreal read.

13. Favourite genre of music?

Going to be very cliche here and say I like a lot of different genres, though I do find jazz helps me work. Listening to a lot of Bill Evans recently inspired me to produce a set of jazz themed T-shirts.

14. What are your hobbies?

Cooking, reading, buying clothes, travelling etc.

15. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

I’ve thought about this before and my ‘plan B’ has always been to become a postman – you get to be outdoors a lot and spend time by yourself!